Blog Layout
5 Choices That Can Contribute to Gum Disease
Admin • May 23, 2018
When you think about your dental health, you likely prioritize caring for your teeth first. However, caring for your gums is as important as looking after your teeth. A healthy smile requires a soft tissue support system to help keep your teeth aligned and strong.
You can implement numerous good habits to help keep your gums healthy, starting with flossing every day. But you should also consider making choices to lower your risk of gum disease by eliminating lifestyle factors that contribute to the development of gingivitis and potentially of periodontitis. In this blog, we list five common habits that can raise your risk of gum disease.
1. Eating Too Much Junk Food
Many oral health issues trace back to nutritional deficiencies. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of your gum tissue. When your immune system is compromised, gum disease can progress more quickly and become unmanageable.
This immunodeficiency can come from a number of system factors, such as chronic disease, but even people without autoimmune illnesses can have nutritional deficiencies, especially if those people eat a lot of unhealthy foods or are obese.
2. Failing to Factor in Medication Side Effects
While your prescription medication can be helpful or even life preserving, you must also pay attention to your side effects and learn how to manage them. Many common medications affect saliva production. When your mouth is too dry, saliva has less of a chance to wash away bacteria and plaque, allowing gum disease to thrive.
Talk to your dentist about managing dry mouth if you take anticonvulsants, blood pressure medications, anti-rejection medication after an organ transplant, antidepressants, or any medication that seems to affect your oral health.
3. Mismanaging Stress
Stress has a well-documented effect on the body's immune system. When you become overly stressed, any compromises in your oral hygiene or saliva production could quickly develop into gum disease.
If you recognize that you are in a high-stress situation, seek healthy coping mechanisms to keep your body, mind, and smile healthy.
4. Putting Off Dental Cleanings
No matter how vigilant your daily oral hygiene routine is or how high-quality your brushing and flossing aids are, these at-home measures are not substitutes for routine dental cleanings. Dental cleanings are particularly important for preventing gum disease because they include a process called scaling.
Scaling is the part of a cleaning where a hygienist uses a narrow handheld tool to remove plaque buildup around your gum line. When performed every six months or as recommended by your dentist, scaling can dramatically reduce your risk of gum disease.
5. Using Tobacco Products
Smoking, chewing tobacco, and vaping are some of the biggest threats to your oral health, especially your soft tissue health. The chemicals in tobacco products actively interfere with the normal replenishment of gum tissue cells, which can speed up the deterioration of gum disease.
Many individuals with gum disease will not progress past gingivitis, but tobacco users are at high risk for periodontitis, which can result in plaque pockets in the gums that weaken tooth roots and may lead to eventual tooth loss.
If you recognize any of your habits on the list above, consider reevaluating the way you treat your gums. Changing your habits can be particularly important if you have other non-lifestyle risk factors for gum disease or disease related to gum issues, such as bruxism, a family history of gum problems, or diabetes.
You may also want to consult with your dentist on the best way to maintain or improve your oral soft tissue health based on your current oral health.
For comprehensive dental services, including periodontics
, trust the experienced staff at Royal Oak Dental.
Your teeth yellow as you age, but you can still a white smile with a little extra effort. Learn about five tips to get the bright smile you desire.
If your dentist has recommended root canal treatment or if you think you may need treatment, check out these commonly asked questions.
Issues with oral health can be confusing if you think you have a healthy diet. Learn about the sugar content in food so you can have a healthy smile.
If you consume alcohol on a regular basis, your teeth may be at risk for decay or cosmetic concerns. Learn about a few ways alcohol can affect your teeth.
Porcelain veneers are one of the more popular cosmetic dental options due to their reasonable price, durability, aesthetics, and other benefits. If your smile is less than perfect and you want to finally get the healthy-looking, pearly white smile you've always wanted, porcelain veneers may be the right choice.
When most people think about the effects of smoking, they think about the damage smoking does to the lungs, and maybe even the heart. However, smoking can have much wider effects on a person's health than just those areas.
If a year or more has gone by since you last saw your dentist it’s probably time to make an appointment. Read to learn about what you can expect.
You can maintain a healthy smile throughout your pregnancy. Take a look at the top tips for preventing morning sickness–related dental dilemmas.
You may have been embarrassed by your crooked smile for years, but you likely don't want to wear obvious metal braces, especially as an adult. The most common type of crooked tooth issue adults face is misaligned bottom teeth, although ongoing dental issues, such as overlapping front teeth or other dental problems are also a concern.
Certain behaviors of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can affect their oral health. In particular, the lack of proper oral hygiene causes plaque and tartar to accumulate, leading to cavities and gum disease. But with the efforts of parents and dentists alike, children with autism can learn the skills it takes to eventually practice an oral health routine on their own.
Contact Information
Phone:
(248) 398-1818
Email:
royaloakdental@gmail.com
Fax:
248-398-2031
Address:
715 North Main Street Royal Oak, MI 48067
Hours of Operation
Monday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Friday: Closed
Alternating Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Payment Options
